Monique Rodriguez

Yeah, that's true. So I actually started as a labor and delivery nurse. So I worked in the field. So I understood everything about labor and delivery that you can possibly know. And so when I was in the hospital room, And I went through, you know, being rushed to the hospital, being on the hospital bed, and them having to, like, rip my clothes off, put my baby on the monitor.

Yeah, that's true. So I actually started as a labor and delivery nurse. So I worked in the field. So I understood everything about labor and delivery that you can possibly know. And so when I was in the hospital room, And I went through, you know, being rushed to the hospital, being on the hospital bed, and them having to, like, rip my clothes off, put my baby on the monitor.

And when his heartbeat was down, like, I knew if you all don't act quick, like, it's not going to be a good outcome.

And when his heartbeat was down, like, I knew if you all don't act quick, like, it's not going to be a good outcome.

And I remember I kept asking, like, where's the doctor? Where's the doctor? And the doctor was at home. And that wasn't a hospital that was equipped to have like an on-call doctor that was 24 hours. And so them having to call the doctor to rush to the hospital to deliver my baby by the time he got there, his heart rate was like, Like, it was so low. It was probably no saving at that point.

And I remember I kept asking, like, where's the doctor? Where's the doctor? And the doctor was at home. And that wasn't a hospital that was equipped to have like an on-call doctor that was 24 hours. And so them having to call the doctor to rush to the hospital to deliver my baby by the time he got there, his heart rate was like, Like, it was so low. It was probably no saving at that point.

And so when he did the C-section, you know, and my son came out, he was lifeless. So he didn't get there in time to, you know, cut him out quick enough. And so it was just devastating. And then... I remember like waking up and I asked my mom and my family, I'm like, is he pink? Because I was incoherent. Like I was drugged up, but I knew to ask like, what's he pink?

And so when he did the C-section, you know, and my son came out, he was lifeless. So he didn't get there in time to, you know, cut him out quick enough. And so it was just devastating. And then... I remember like waking up and I asked my mom and my family, I'm like, is he pink? Because I was incoherent. Like I was drugged up, but I knew to ask like, what's he pink?

And then I saw the look on my mom's face and I knew at that point that, you know, it wasn't, it wasn't right. So it was a very, like even talking about it, just,

And then I saw the look on my mom's face and I knew at that point that, you know, it wasn't, it wasn't right. So it was a very, like even talking about it, just,

even though it's healing, it's therapeutic, it's still so hurtful because when you think about the health disparities in the medical system for Black women, like, I tried to be my own advocate because I knew I was highly educated in the field, and my level of education couldn't save my son. Wow.

even though it's healing, it's therapeutic, it's still so hurtful because when you think about the health disparities in the medical system for Black women, like, I tried to be my own advocate because I knew I was highly educated in the field, and my level of education couldn't save my son. Wow.

And so I think about the women or the Black people, the Black community in general that go to the hospital and don't have any knowledge of their care or being an advocate for themselves, like how doctors and nurses dismiss their symptoms, dismiss their care for whatever reason because of the disparities.

And so I think about the women or the Black people, the Black community in general that go to the hospital and don't have any knowledge of their care or being an advocate for themselves, like how doctors and nurses dismiss their symptoms, dismiss their care for whatever reason because of the disparities.

something has to give something has to stop and i also wanted to be an advocate for that and bring awareness to you know our health system right and to hopefully educate more black and brown young adults to go into the medical field and be our advocates because my doctor at the time was white he did not look like me yep and You know, it's always would have, should have, could have.

something has to give something has to stop and i also wanted to be an advocate for that and bring awareness to you know our health system right and to hopefully educate more black and brown young adults to go into the medical field and be our advocates because my doctor at the time was white he did not look like me yep and You know, it's always would have, should have, could have.

I wish I would have done this. But I had to learn, like, I can't blame myself.

I wish I would have done this. But I had to learn, like, I can't blame myself.

But all I can do is be an advocate for, you know, more black and brown people to step up to go into the medical field so they can be a voice and an advocate and have the empathy and caring and compassion that our community needs. Right. Yes. Yes. Because even now, my dad, when he goes into the hospital, I have to always step in and advocate for him or ask questions.

But all I can do is be an advocate for, you know, more black and brown people to step up to go into the medical field so they can be a voice and an advocate and have the empathy and caring and compassion that our community needs. Right. Yes. Yes. Because even now, my dad, when he goes into the hospital, I have to always step in and advocate for him or ask questions.